Direct marketing allows you to generate a specific response from targeted groups of customers. It's a particularly useful tool for small businesses because it allows you to measure the success of campaigns accurately by analysing response test your marketing - you can target a representative sample of your target audience and see what delivers the best response rates before developing a full campaign

increasing sales to existing customers
building customer loyalty
re-establishing lapsed customer relationships
generating new business
There are many different approaches to direct marketing. These include traditional methods such as mailshots and telemarketing, and electronic methods such as email marketing, SMS (short message service) marketing and social media. The method most appropriate for your business will depend on who you are targeting, the message you want get across and response you want to generate.